Blade tensioning means for meat-cutting band saws



Nov. 11, 1952 W..A. FlNK ETAL BLADE TENSIONING MEANS FOR MEAT-CUTTING BAND SAWS Filed Aug. 23, 1947 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 jNVENTORS Walk/b48577 z James raw/2 Nov. 11, 1952 w. A. FlNK ETAL 2,617,451

BLADE TENSIONING MEANS FOR MEAT-CUTTING BAND SAWS 7 Filed Aug. 25, 1947 I10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 11, 1952 w. A. FINK ETAL BLADE TENSIONING MEANS FOR MEAT-CUTTING BAND SAWS 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 23, 1947 INVENTORS Wo/ferA HM Jomesllfirown Nov. 11, 1952 w: FlN K ETAL 2,617,

BLADE TENSIONING MEANS FOR MEAT-CUTTING BAND SAWS Filed Aug. 23, 1947 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS Wa/fer/l. fi'n/f James D. firown W ATTORN Y3 .0 v #w 1. M 8M 5 5 z S 4 J T w e w m .n. mhw w 2 S M am A W m J S B T T m MW H H M m m m K R k m m a F w i A M i M w c m N n O I m M T E 7 D 4 2 A 9 4 L I w B fi S w a H" 1 1 g HTM 1 M I d 2 .A 95 o 1 1 N F m 5 Nov. 11, 1952 w. A. FINK ETAL 2,617,451

BLADE TENSIONING MEANS FOR MEAT-CUTTING BAND SAWS Filed Aug. 23, 1947 10 sheets sh'eet 6 IOI 55 5 INVENTORS 93 lVa/ferA. 527/;

Z g E JamesDBram Nov. 11, 1952 w. A. FlNK ETAL 2,617,451

BLADE TENSIONING MEANS FOR MEAT-CUTTING BAND SAWS.

Filed Aug. 23, 1947 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Nov. 11, 1952 w. A. FINK ETAL 2,617,451

BLADE TENSIONING MEANS FOR MEAT-CUTTING BAND SAWS 10 sneets sneet 8 Filed Aug. 23, 1947 'IIIIIIIIII INVENTORS W0/7en4. F/h/f James Dfiron n ATOR2EYS i Nov. 11, 1952 w. A. FI NK ETAL 2,617,451

BLADE TENSIONING MEANS FOR MEAT-CUTTING BAND SAWS l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Aug. 23, 1947' [5 9 a] Q i James D. Brown w A FlNK ETAL 2,617,451

BLADE mwsgou'mc MEANS FOR -'MEAT-CUTTING BAND SAWS INVENTORS Wa/ferA. fill/f James D. Brown ATTORNQVQ E l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 Nov. 11, 1952 Filed Aug.

fatentecl Nov. 1 1 1952 EN T FF! CE BLADE TENSIONING MEANsFoRMEA'r- CUTTING BANDZ SAWS Walter A. Fink and James D. Brown, loledo, Ohio; 'ass'ignors to Toledo Scale Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application August 23, 1947,'Serial No. 770.247

4 Claims.

invention'relates to mea't cutting saws of the type employed in meat retailers and wholesalers establishments, inhotels and restaurants main other places where large quantites of meat must be cut u from carcass, half carcass, or quarter carcass pieces to prepare steaks, chops, roasts and other saleable or preparable pieces of meat.

The principal advantage accruing from the use of a'meat cutting band saw lies in the great speed with which large pieces of meat can be cut into smaller, more usable pieces. Saws of this type are equipped with blades which are designed to cut meat, gristle, fat,'bone and sinew with equal speed. Therefore, an operator using a machine can 'make severing cuts at high speed regardless bf'the nature of the particular substance through which the cut must be made. In general, many machines of this type have been designed but in each of the machinesthere has been at least one or inore clumsy or lessthan desirable features.

It is the object of this invention to provide a meat cutting band Saw specifically designed for the purpose for which it is intended and so organized and equipped as to facilitate the handling or large pieces of meat and their rapid and easy preparation for use.

It 'isano'the'r object of this invention to provide a meat cutting band saw which can be cleaned quickly and easily to maintain it in sanitary condition. V v

It is another object of this invention to provide a jneat'cutti'ng band saw having quickly removablefsaw wheels, thus facilitating cleaning the peripheries thereof to keep the machine sanitary.

It is sun another object of this invention to provide a meat cutting band saw equipped with means "for'cl'eaning, guiding and supporting the blade during operation which can be removed and replaced as a unit to simplify the :maintenance of these parts in sanitary condition.

It is yetanother objectofthis invention to province meat cutting band saw in which the cut-thic ness gauge plate can e; placed a desir'ed distance from. the saw blade, as for the cuttingbf asteak of certain thickness, canibe movedout of the way for'majorip'ortion cutting and returned directly :to the exact setting' a't which it was located before moving.

- 'A still further object of this invention is to pro- Videa meat cutting bandsav/ with e'asily'acce's siblesimplified control means ro'r adjusting the tension of the band saw blade-itself. v

v t another objectjof this nventions the H visidii drsawbiaae' tnsioning means which do 2 not require great manual exertion to affect the tensioning of the blade.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a work light so mounted in a, meat cutting band saw as to cast light directly upon the working area of the machine and upon the swiftly moving saw blade itself, thereby to brightly' illuminate this 'most dangerous portion of the machine and assist in preventing accidents.

A still further object of this invention is to'provide a meat cutting band saw in which all of the running parts of the machine are easily accessible for cleaning, for oiling and for general maintenance and repair.

Many more specific objects and advantages will be apparent from the particular constructiomassembly and association of parts which constitute a meat cutting band saw constructed in accordance with this invention. 7

These details are illustrated in the drawings in which: n v

Figure I is an end elevation of a meat cutting band saw embodying the invention.

Figure II is a front elevation of the machine illustrated in Figure I.

FigureIII is a greatly enlarged fragmentary detail view taken on the line IIIIII in Figure'I.

Figure IV is a greatly enlarged vertical sectional view with certain parts broken awayand showing the general construction of the base and the driving means of the machine illustrated in FigureI.

Figure V is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially from the position in-' dicated bythe line VV in Figure IV.

Figure VI is a fragmentary detailed sectional view on a further enlarged scale and taken sub stantially from the position indicatedbythe'line VI-VI inrFigure V.

Figure VII is a fragmentary detailed sectional vi'ew'taken substantially from the "position indi cated by the line VII-VII in Figure V.

Figure VIII'is a fragmentary transverse 'sectional View taken from the right side of FigU'r'eI V and with certain parts broken away. J

Figure'IX is -a fragmentary enlargedveitical sectional view taken substantially on the line IXIX in FigilreVIII. V r

Figure X is a fragmentary detailed view taken substantially frorhthe position shewn'by the line X -X in Figure VIII. r l.

Figure XI is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly. -;in s'eetion showing, the details of'the ednstructiohbf the head of thefmacliineillustrated in'Figu're-I.

Figure XII is a fragmentary Vertical sectional 3 view taken substantially on the line XII-XII in Figure XI.

Figure XIII is a fragmentary detailed view taken substantially from the position indicated by the line X[IIXIII in Figure XII, with the upper saw wheel removed.

Figure XIV is a fragmentary view in elevation and on a smaller scale showing the side of the head opposite from that shown in Figure XI.

Figure XV is a fragmentary View in elevation and on an enlarged scale with certain parts broken away taken substantially from the position indicated by the line XVXV in Figure XI.

Figure XVI is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line XVI-XVI in Figure XV.

Figure XVII is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line XVII-XVII in Figure XI.

Figure XVIII is a detailed horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line XVIII-XVIII in Figure XI.

Fi ure XIX is a plan view of the Working table with certain parts broken away andother parts indicated by dotted lines to show their construction and operation.

Figure XX is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line XX-XX in Figure XIX and illustrating the construction and mounting of the working table.

Figure XXI is a fragmentary front elevat on of the working table and supporting structure illustrating general details of construction.

Figure XXII is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the line XXIIXXII in Figure XXI.

Figure XXIII is a greatly enlarged fragmentary View partly in section illustrating the construction and operation of the thickness gauge plate and taken from the right side of Figure II.

Figure XXIV is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line XXIVXXIV in Figure XXIII.

Figure XXV is a fragmentary view showing details of the gauge plate mechanism.

The meat cutting band saw generally illustrated in Figures I and II has a base housing I which is erected on four short closed legs 2 and to which is attached, by means of forwardly extending brackets 3, a runway 4 on which a movable tabl 5 is mounted to reciprocate. The top of the housing I is formed by a stationary table 6 which lies on the same plane as the moving table 5 forming withv the moving table a working surface for handling the meat to be cut on the machine.

At the rear centeriportion of the housing I there is erected a column I atop which is located a head 8. An upper saw Wheel 9 is journaled in the head 8 and a lower saw wheel I is journaled within the base. I. Acontinuous band saw blade II runs on the two saw wheels 9 and I0 passing upwardly through the hollow column I and downwardly across the throat formed between the underside of the head 8 and the table 6. A driving motor I2 is mounted in the base housing I and drivingly connected to the lower saw, wheel in by a drive belt I3.

A thickness gauge plate I4 is mounted for fore and aft movement along the right-hand side of the table 6 back of the cutting plane of the blade II so that by setting the position of the gauge plate I4 relative to the blade II slices of meat of desired thickness can be cut. A pusher plate I is slidable across one end of the table 5 to push and hold smaller pieces of meat against the thickness gauge plate I4 when the table is moved to cut the meat.

Base housing The base housing of the machine which is illustrated in detail in Figures IV through X is constructed of sheet metal bent and welded into a rectilinear hollow body around an angle iron framework and carrying on its upper end a main table casting I6. The right side of the base housing I is closed by an access door I! which is hinged at its forward edge and is provided with a handle I8 by which it can be opened. The door I! is held in latched position when closed by the engagement of a bullet-head pin IQ (Figure IV) with a small formed clip 20 attached to an interior cross member of the housing frame. Opening the door I! gives access to the interior of the base housing I which is compartmented. At the upper right-hand portion of the base housing there is located a wheel compartment 2| (Figures IV and VIII) formed of sheet metal secured to angle brackets 22 and 23 and which has a flat closed bottom 24, closed back and front walls 25 and 26 and an inside wall 21 in which is cut a vertically elongated opening 28. The sheet metal forming the walls and bottom of the wheel compartment 2I is secured to the underside of the main casting I6 and also provided with turned-over lips 29 which form the edges of the open side of the compartment.

The remainder of the interior of the base housing constitutes a single compartment containing the driving motor I2, its mounting means and the means for mounting and adjustably positioning the lower saw wheel Ii]. The entire structure consisting of the parts just enumerated is supported from the underside of the main casting IE by means of a shaft 3!] which is rockingly mounted by a pair of clamps 3| which are mounted on the lower ends of bosses 32 formed on the casting It by means of studs 33. The shaft 30 extends horizontally along beneath the casting [B from the approximate midpoint of the base housing I to the rear of the base housing I. A pair of rocker arms 34 and 35 are securely welded to the shaft 30, one near each of its ends, the rocker arm 34 being located at the rear and extending downwardly and the rocker arm 35 being located, at the forward end and extending forwardly toward the right (from the front of the machine-Figure IV). The end of the rocker arm 35 is pivctally connected by a pin 38 (Figure IV) to the upper end of a downwardly extending double link 31, the lower end of which is pivotally connected by a pin 38 to a drilled car 39 formed on the upper side of a lower wheel journal casting 40.

The lower end of the rocker arm 34 pivotally mounts a square nut 4| which is threaded on the left end of a tension control rod 42, the right end of which extends along behind the back wall 25 of the wheel compartment 2I and through a bushing 43 outside of the base housing I having a hand crank 44 pinned on its outermost end. A collar 45 (Figure IV) is pinned to the rod 42 a short distance inside the wall of the housing I and a heavy coil spring 45 surrounds the rod 42 being compressible between the collar 45 and the inner end of the bushing 43. The rod 42 is so close to the rear of the base housing I that the bushing 43 supporting its outermost (right) end is mounted not only in the wall of the base housing I but also, in order to provide addedrigidity,

gang-21st one flange bf an uprigh t corner bracket "41 formingjone of the main vertical structural'me'm bers of the base housing I.

The journal casting has a downwardly extjending flanged 'portion f ltl which is slidingly mounted ona vertical plate 49 secured to an angle bracket 50 attached in turn by studs 51 to the underside of bosses -52 formed on the main l6. The plate 49 serves as a guide tor vertical movement of the teem-e casting '40. The journal casting 40 has a horizontal bore 53 througnwhich there extends a lower wheel 'axle 54, the axle 54 being journaled in the casting "40 b y'a pair of ball bearings '55 one of which is located at each end of the bore 53. The left end (Figure IV) of theaxle 54 -in ou nts a \'(-belt pulley which-is keyed thereto by a Woodrufi key '5'? and the right end of the axle 54 removably mounts 'the lower saw wheel 10. The driving meter-12 is'ino'un te d on the underside of 'a hinged bracket 58 formed of heavy angle irons-which is-pivot'ed atits rearend to ears 59 'formed at the end of a bar 60 welded to the interior of a r'e'a'i 'wall 6| of the base housing I. The motor bracket 58 is supported from the journal lion'sing "40 by means of a rod 62 the upper end of which extends between a pair of ears'63 formed on 'thepo'rtion '48 of the journal casting i il and which is attached thereto 'by a supportpin 64.

The lower end of the rod 62 extends through a cross channel 65 of the "motor bracket 58, loosely fitting in "a hole '66 bored in the cross channel eased having a 'headfil of larger diameter than the ho 1e66. The lower portion'of the rod '62 is threaded'and a castellated nut 58 located there-'- on. The nut 68 can betightened downwardly to compress a coil'sp'ring 69 which surrounds the lower end of the rod'62 acting between a Washer 10 beneath the nut '68 and a washer 'I'I above the'cross channel 65. A drive pulley l2is mountes e the endiof the shaftof the motor 12 and a vbelt T3'drivin'gly engaged with that pulley'an'd the lower wheel pulley 56 mounted on the lower Wheel axle 54. The spring 69 is compressed by turning the castellated nut 68 downwardly and its expansive force acts to apply force to the V- belt 13 to maintain the belt 13 in proper driving tension.

The lower saw wheel 10 is removably mounted on the end of the axle 54, the axle having a beveled portion 14 near its end and a threaded portion 15 at its end. The lower wheel ID has a hub 16 which also is beveled to fit on the beveledportion 14 of the axle 54 and the axle 54 is provided with a Woodruff key ll engageable in a keyway I8 milled in the beveled interior of the hub 16. The wheel I0 is retained on the axle54 bya hand nut 19 engageable with the threaded portion 15 of'the axle 54. The hand nut 19 is 'removably attached to the-hub 16 by means of 'a flat split ring 80 held on its inner surface by screws 8| (Figure VIII), which is engaged in an annular groove 82 cut in the exterior of the hub 16. Thus, when the hand nut 19 is rotated with respect to the axle 54 the lower wheel I!) is pulled ofi the end of the axle 54 by the split ririg'flo- V A pan shaped closure 83 is mounted on the right end of the journal housing 40 behind the lowerwheel l0 and a rubber ring 84 is cemented to its outer edge. The closure 83 andrubber ring 84 close the vertically elongated aperture 28 in the inside wall 21 of the Wheel compartment 2|. 7

' The left side of the base housing] is closed by afemovable sheet ri ietal panel'85 which'is so fa ntest te heveatpreximeteiy the same shap as the ac'c'es's door H, being located "on the side of tlie base housing opposite to the access-door -H. Ascr'ap pan 86 is removably located in the wheel oompartmenfifl and has'a segmental cutout space 81 inits rear wall so that it can be slid to the inside "of t'he C Qml art'r'nent 2-l beneath "the lower wheel ft] to catch fe'rippihgs of fat and scraps and bits "of meat which may be thrown on the wheel or the blade during operation. The base housing I is "supported on the four hollow termed metal legs '2 aslight distance 'ebeve the floor level thus permitting access to the 'area beneath the machine fer sweeping to prevent any vermin from breeding beneath the machine.

Operation of blade tensioning device a The lower saw wheel and motor supporting mechanism above'described'functions not onlyfor those purposes but [also to permit tension to be applied to the saw 'blad'ejl I. The saw bladejl'l runs on the lower saw wheel l0 and the upper saw wheel 9 and inust be'kept taut during "op'ei'- ation of the machine both to maintain it in true running position on the peripheries of thefs'aw wheels and also to prevent its being kinke'd or twisted when heavy pieces 'of'meat "or bone are presseda gainstitscutting edge during the cutting operations. The periphery of the saw wh ql f lp has a flange 38 'at its 'r ear'edge and a bevel 89 at its forward edge. The bevel is provided to accommodate the teeth of the saw, which are set slightly in common with saws used for other purposes. The flange 88 at the rear of the wheel-periphery prevents the saw from being run 01T- the wheelwhen pressure isexerted against itduring a cutting operation.

'I he'iippe'r saw wheel 9, as will be later described,is journaled in the head of the machine so "that'it's axle can be tilted to make it runtrue, but durin'g'operation its axle remains stationary and it is not translatable. Therefore, in orderto apply the'proper tension to the saw blade l I and also "to {accommodate blades 'of slightly "different lengths 'as,-forexample, when a bladefha's been "broken and 'rewelded, the lower saw wheel and its axle'are supported as above described so that they can i be moved vertically. Mere ability to be moved, however, is insufiicient because in order-for thesaw {blade to operate properly it mus be under certain predetermined tension regardless of-its length. V v {The-mechanism described above is so designed that the weight of the driving motor, which is substantial, is employedto apply the majority of the tensioning force to the blade and thus eliminating the necessity for applying all the force manually. Merely connecting the motor directly to the lower saw wheel journal mounting alone would not, however, properly solve the tension problem because this weight'is-not'variable as is required. by changes in length of the'blade'and does not applya predetermined resilient tensioning force which allows a small degree of variance in the proper tension on the blade whenthe machineis operating. a I, I v

In the present invention this resilience in the tensioning force is achieved by applying to the. lower wheel supporting mechanism the resilient 7 force of a spring which is so mounted that its loading and, consequently, its active force can be manually varied as required by blades of difierent lengths so'that regardless of the length of the blade a predeterminedtensioning force can be applied at will. This force is applied and its anplication directly indicated by the linkage means above described. When the blade II is in position around the upper saw wheel 9 and the lower saw wheel II), the weight of the motor I2 pulling downwardly on the casting 40 tends to swing the bell crank comprising the rocker arms 34 and 35 and the shaft in a clockwise direction (Figure IV). This force also tends to pull inwardly on the control rod 42 but is of insufficient magnitude to stretch the blade I I sufiiciently to place it under proper operating tension. In order to apply the additional increment of force the hand crank 44 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction which moves the nut 4I outwardly on the threaded portion of the rod 42, swinging the bell crank linkage further in a clockwise direction and further lowering the journal casting 40, to stretch the saw blade II. The reaction of this rotation of the hand crank 44 forces the control rod 42 to the right in Figure IV compressing, or loading, the coil spring 46 which surrounds the rod 42. When the hand crank 44 has been rotated sufficiently so that the forces, consistin of the loading of the coil spring 46 plus the weight of the motor I2, are counterbalanced by the tension placed on the saw blade II, the control rod 42 has been moved to the right (in Figure IV) a distance sufficient to bring a mark 90 scribed on the periphery of the hub of the hand crank 44 into registration with a notch 9I cut on the flat upper surface of the milled off outer end of the bushing 43. At this point the inner end of the hub of the hand crank 44 has moved outwardly away from a shoulder 92 (on the bushing 43) which was formed when the upper portion of the bushing was milled off to provide the flat surface in which the notch 9| is out. By proper selection of the strength of the spring 46 it is thus possible to provide a tensioning mechanism which will apply a predetermined resilient tension to a blade mounted in the machine regardless of the particular length of the blade.

When it is desired to remove or replace a saw blade the hand crank 44 is rotated in a clockwise direction which relieves the loading of the spring 46 and moves the control rod 42 to the left in Figure IV, until the inner end of the hub of the hand crank 44 engages the shoulder 92 on the bushing 43. Further rotation of the hand crank 44 in a clockwise direction moves the nut 4| to the right, swinging the bell crank comprising the rocker arms 34 and in a counterclockwise direction and lifting the journal casting and motor I2 vertically to completely free the blade I I from any tension so that it can be removed from the machine.

Upper housing The upper housing of the machine consists of the column I which is erected at the rear center portion of the base housing I and the head 8 formed at the top of the column I. The column 1 (Figures XI and XIX) is substantially H-shaped in horizontal cross section, the two'arms of the H forming the front and rear walls 93 and 94 of the column and the cross bar forming a web 95 extending from front to rear between the walls 93 and 94. The column I is mounted on the base housing I by four main studs 96 and 91. The two studs 95 extend horizontally through a formed bracket 98 located at the rear of the column which extends down behind the rear edge of the main table castin I6 and are threaded into the rear edge of the table casting I6. The two studs 91 extend downwardly through a pair of pads 99 which are formed at the lower ends of the rear wall 94 and front wall 93 of the column I said studs being threaded into the upper surface of the main table casting I6.

The column I is integral with the main frame of the head 0, the front wall 93 of the column I continuing upwardly and around the underside of the head 8 and the rear wall 94 of the colume I continuing upwardly and over, the two walls joining to form a somewhat circular periphery for the head 8 with the web continuing upwardly to form a center wall I00 (Figure XII) for the head 8. The head 8 and column I thus are divided into two vertically separated shallow compartments HM and I02 with the web 95 and wall I00 separating the two compartments. The right side of the compartment IN is closed by a door I03 which is hinged at its rear edge by hinges I04 to the right edge of the rear wall 94 of the column I. The door I03 completely encloses the compartment IM and all mechanism contained therein. The door I03 is provided with a hand knob I05 (Figure III) and a latch consisting of a bent spring I06 and button I01 with which it engages, the button I01 being studded into the front wall 93 of the head 8 near its lower front corner. In the drawings the door I03 is shown as a single casting with decorative contours formed on its outer surface. The opposite side of the head 8 is formed by a panel I08 which closes the left compartment I02 and has an exterior contour similar to that of the door I03 in order to provide a pleasing symmetrical design. The panel I08 is held in place by a plurality of retaining bolts I09 which extend through the center wall I00 and are threaded into a thickened flange IIO formed at the edges of the panel I08. This construction lends great strength to the column and head of the machine since it is, in effect, an I-beam opposing its cantilever strength against the tension of the saw blade II, which tension tends to bend the column 1 forwardly or the front end of the head 8 downwardly.

The upper saw wheel 9 is mounted on an axle i I I which is rotatably journaled in a pair of roller bearings I I2 in turn mounted in a tubular casting H3. The casting II3 extends through a central aperture H4 in the wall I00 and is provided with three ears IE5 extending radially from its sides and top. The tubular casting II3 also has a pair of laterally spaced downwardly extending bosses H9. See XIII. The casting H3 is adjustably mounted on the wall I00 by means of three bushings II? which are threaded on their outer surfaces and bored at their center to receive studs H8. The bushin s II] are threaded through the ears II5 and their innermost ends bear directly on the surface of the wall I00. I/ock nuts H9 are threaded on the outer ends of the bushings Ill which also are provided with transverse slots I20 for the reception of a bifurcated crew driver. A stud I'JI is threaded into each of the bosses I i5 with its head I22 resting on a horizontal pad I23 formed on the wall I09.

The position of the axle III thus can be adjusted angularly with respect to the position of the lower wheel axle fi to brin it into exact parallelism therewith in order that the two saw wheels 9 and I8 run in exactly the same vertical plane. This adjustment of the axle I I I is accomplished by loosening the locking nuts I I9, moving the bushings II? relative to their ears I I5 and a when in the proper adjusted position ti htening the studs H8 to lock the casting H3 in position and retightening the lockin nuts H9 to prevent eh 'r ael 9 .t rmen .r T tu s. .2. so tan be d s ed relative to the bosses II6 in which they are threaded to properly position the casting II 3. The studs I2I also bear considerable of the downward thrust caused by the tension of the blade II.

The end of the casting I I3 and the adjustahle mounting means which all are locatedin the co n partment II'II are enclosed by a pan shaped cover I24 which has a centrally located hole I25 and a rim I26 that is clamped by bolts I21 against'an an l a ke I"- Th ri t end o the xl II I which extends through the hole I25 into the compartment IIJI has a beveled portion I23 near its end and its outermost end I30 is threaded. The upper saw wheel 9 has a hub I3I which also is beveled and slotted for the reception of a Woodrufi key I32. The upper. wheel Sis retained on the axle I II by a hand nut I33 screwedpnto thethreaded end I36 of the axle I I I. The hand nut :33 i retained on thehub I3 I by e s'plitrin I34 which is engaged in' an annular recess I35 cut in the exterior of the hub' I3I, thesplit'ri'ng I34 being secured to the hand nut I33 by bolts '35- The periphery of the upper wheel 9 has a flange I31 at "its rear edge anda 'bevel' I38 at'its'iront edge to guide the saw I I and accommodate its setteeth in the same manner as .the lower wheel III is constructed. The saw blade H passes around the upper wheel 9 down through an open ing I39 formed at the lower front corner of the Wall 93 of the head 8, across thethroat of the machine between the lower portion of the head '8 and the top of the table 6, through an aperture 1 I40 in the'table 6, around the lower saw wheel I9 and up through aspace MI in the table cast in I 6 into the interior of the compartment "IIlI in the column 1 and; in the head 8, back onto the uppervvheel 9. SeeFig. XI.

Sew ere The span of the blade I I which crosses the. open throat of the machine is dangerous because the saw moves at an extremely high speed during operation. It is desirable therefore that only that portion of the saw actually required to pass through the particular piece of meat being out should be exposed because of the possibility that the operator's hand or arm may be injured by contacting the saw blade above the meat bein out. In order to guard that portion of the blade not required and also in order to provide backing means for the blade as close to the ineat being 'cut as possible, the machine is equipped with aTsaw guard and upper guide I42 (Figures XI and XV through XVIII). The saw guard and upper guide I 42 is mounted to slide vertically by means of a square rod I43 which extends upwardly through the interior of a switch plate casting I44 mounted on the front of the head 6 and secured to the front wall 63 by means of studs I45. The casting I44 has square slots I46 milled through its upper and lowerwalls which are in vertical alignment and which lead into an opening I 41 formed in the casting I414. The rod Hi3 slides in the slots I46 through the opening I41 Ihe rod M3 is retained in any vertical po-. sition towhich it ismoved by sliding engagement with a friction block I48 which is urged against its side by a pair of small coil springs I49 acting between a vertical web I 56 of the casting I44 and the friction block I48. The square slide rod I43 is prevented from moving downwardly too far by a-stop stud I5I (Figure XI) which is set in one d of he red 4% nea ts 91 4 181 4 a d w s ng e the p b w c p ate. casting 44 wh n t e a I4? s ov d d w w d o limit of its travel. I

The aw e d ts l ns f a v tically e t in uhaped ch nd member 5lW h i en e u w thr the Opening I 3. in he front wall 9 3 One arm of'the channel shaped guard I52 terminates in a rod I53 At the lower end of the rod I53 is cut a horizontally extend: me as Shaped '54 hi h s in atiabl through a keyhole shaped slot I5 out in a hori-. ta 1 1 1556i ew ar br cke I51 mqunt ed on the lower. end oi the rod I43. The bracket I51'hj-as" a downwardly extending arm I56 which is secured to the Hat sideqf the rod I43 by a pair of screws" IEBfIFig'ures and XVIII) The saw. guard I512'can'fbe removed from. its position on the bracket I51 by rotating it 90 (-in a clockwise direction, Eig'ureXVIII) to bring the lug I54 into registration with thekeyhole, I55. permittin the guard I52 to be lifted slightly wit respect to the bracket "I51',.to' withdrawfthelug I54 through the keyhole I55. At the upper endof the guard I52 the rod I53 extendsabovethe channel shaped portion ofthe guardlsee Figure XVIII-and when the guard is moved to the upperlirnit of its travel the endof the rod"l5 3"enters a conical notch I60 (Fig'ures'XI and XVII) formed a small ear? I6'I caston' the center 'wall I96,- I

Atthe lower en'd'of the rod I43 there also is ounted an upper. saw guide I62 (Figures- XI; XVII and XVIII). The upper'saw guide I62 consists of a body I63 having'a handle I64 at its front end and a'pair of transversely extending bosses I65 and I66 atits rear end; The'body IE3 is mounted on the lower end of the square rod I43 by meansof a' pair. of flat headed screws I61 (Figure XVIII)" which pass through the rod I43 and are threaded into the handleportion 'of the body I633." The "boss I66 removably' mounts a guide bearing I63 whichhasa vertical slot I69 closely embracing the rear portion of thesaw blade I I. 'The guide bearing "I68 is hel'd in'pla'ce in the boss I66 by a screw I10 threaded through the back of the boss I66 and into the end' of use uid bearing I68. he boss I65 adjustably mounts a thrust hear-- ing' I1I which comprises ahardned cup s'haped cover I12 mounted on the outer race of a ball bearing I13, the inner race of'which is fixed on the forward end of a tenoned shaft I14. The shart I15 extends to the'rear of the) boss I65 and has a short rod I15 threaded in its rearmost end. The outer end of the short rod I 15 extends beyond the nd of the boss I 65 and a knurled thumb nut I16 is'pin'ned thereon; 'By rotating the thumb nut I16 the horizontalpositionof the thrust bearing I1I can be adjusted so as meme; erly ba kup the saw blade II.' During normal operation of the machine the saw blade I I slightly clears the hardened cover I12 'of the thrust bearing I'II and only engages such bearing when "'twing pressure is exerted ainst the blade in?" By means of the handle I64 the combination guide and guard I 42 can be lowered oreleiiated as the need may be to accommodate chunks of meat being out. This insuresthat theblade'is backed up and guided'immdiately above the 7 piece of meat being cut and also that the saw blade, where not'required to passth rough the meat, is guarded to prevent accidental injury, to an operator.

" Lower saw guide In order to properly guide the saw blade 'II beneath the piece of meat being cut and to prevent any damaging engagement between the teeth or other portions of the blade and the table 6, where the blade passes through the aperture I40 in the table 6, there is provided beneath the surface of the table 6 and removably mounted on the main table casting I0, an adjustable lower saw guide I11 (Figures VIII and IX). The lower saw guide assembly consists of a bifurcated guide bearing I18 and a thrust ball bearing I19 substantially identical with the corresponding parts I68 and HI of the upper saw guide. The guide bearing I18 and thrust bearing I19 are mounted in a mounting bracket I80 which is secured on the ends of two horizontally extending rods II. The rods I8I extend through a guide block I82 and are attached to a yoke I83. The guide block I82 is removably mounted on the inner surface of the front web of the main table casting I6, being positioned by two inwardly extending pins I84 which are studded in the web of the casting I6 and held thereon by a threaded rod I85, the outer end of which extends through and beyond the front web of the table I6 and to which is attached a knurled thumb nut I86. A second thumb nut I81 (Figure IX) is pinned on the end of a short shaft I88 which passes through the yoke I83 and is threaded into the guide block I82. The guide bearing I18 is held in the mounting bracket I80 by a screw I89 and the thrust bearing I19 is rotatably mounted on a stud I99 held in place in the mounting bracket I80 by a 0 clip I9I. The guide bearing I18 also is utilized for mounting a pair of thin flexible bladed scrapers I92, the lower ends of which are attached to the sides of the guide bearing I18 and the upper ends of which are bent inwardly to scrape opposite sides of the blade I I above the guide bearing I18.

By unscrewing the thumb nut I86 the guide block I82 can be pulled off the two positioning pins I84 and the entire guide assembly comprising the guide bearing I18, thrust bearing I19 and bladed scrapers I92 removed as a unit from the machine. When the guide assembly is in place the clearance between the thrust bearing I19 and the saw blade I I can be adjusted by rotating the thumb nut I81 and sliding the entire guide mounting bracket I80 longitudinally, the rods I8l sliding through the guide block I82.

Wheel scrapers The two blade scrapers I92 described above remove a considerable portion of the grease and fatty matter which adheres to the blade I I after itpasses through the meat, but they cannot be made to grasp the blade tightly enough to remove all of the fat and grease which adheres to it and a considerable quantity of this material is transferred to the peripheries of the upper and lower saw wheels 9 and I0. It is necessary therefore to provide an upper wheel scraper I93 (Figure XI) and a lower wheel scraper I94 (Figures VIII and X) for the purpose of removing accumulated grease from the peripheries of the wheels to reduce the tendency for the blade to slip on the wheels and to aid in keeping the machine clean. The lower scraper I94 consists of a formed metal bracekt I95 which is pivotally mounted on a stud I96 riveted in an ear I91 welded or otherwise secured on the undersurface of a member of the table 6. The other end of the bracket I95 carries a scraper blade I98 the lower end of which rides on the periphery of the lower saw wheel Ill. The bracket I95 is urged downwardly by a spring I99 which is coiled around a stud 200 also riveted in the ear I91, one arm of the spring I99 being hooked beneath the stud I96 and the other arm hooked over the bracket I95.

The upper wheel scraper I93 is similarly enstructed having a bracket 20I pivotally mounted on a stud 202 threaded into the center wall I00 of the head 8 and a scraper blade 203 which is urged upwardly against the periphery of the upper wheel 9 by a coiled spring 204 wrapped around a stud 205 threaded into the wall I00, the arms of the spring 204 being hooked above the stud 202 and beneath the bracket 20I respectively.

Stationary table The machine is provided with a stationary working table generally numbered 6 which overlies the upper surface of the main table casting I6 forming a flat top on the base housing I. The table 6 actually consists of three separate parts. These are a removable table section 206 (Figures XIX and XX) a column base 201 and a stationary table plate 208. The column base 201, which consists merely of a flat substantially square plate, is set on ribs formed on the upper surface of the main table casting I6 and held in place between the casting I6 and the bottom of the column 1 by the studs 91 which secure the column to the main table casting and the base. The stationary table plate or section 208 consists of a sheet of metal, preferably stainless steel or other smooth durably finished material, which overlies the left half (the upper half in Figure XIX) of the base housing I and table casting I6, resting on a plurality of ribs 209 (Figures IV and XX) formed on the upper surface of the table casting I6 and on a pair of outriggers 2 I0 (Figures IV and XIX) which are bolted to the left edge of the table casting I6. The plate 208 is secured to the table I6 and horizontal arms of the outriggers 2I0 by several studs 2 which are welded to the underside of the table plate 208 and held in place on the casting I6 or Outriggers 2I0 by nuts and washers 2I2 and 2 I3 threaded on their lower ends. The stationary table plate 208 is provided with several laterally extending tongues 2I4 which are welded to the underside of the plate 208 extending to the right slightly beyond the edge of the plate 208.

Similar tongues 2I5 are welded to the inner edge of the removable table 206 which rests on ribs 2I6 formed around the edges of the right half of the upper portion of the table casting I6. The removable table plate 206 overlies an opening 2 I1 formed in the table casting I6 through which access can be gained to the lower guide and scraper unit I11 when the table plate 206 is removed. The plate 206 is properly positioned by means of a positioning stud 2 I8 (Figures IV and XX) riveted to its underside which engages a hole 2I9 bored in a horizontal web-like portion near the right end of the table casting I6. Because the removable table plate 296 must be tilted in order to disengage the stud 2 I8 from the hole 2I9 the door I03 of the column and head (Figure IV) is beveled at its lower edge to permit the table to be tipped upwardly and to the left. The aperture M0 through which the saw blade II returns to the base actually is formed by notches cut in the front center corners of the two table sections 299 and this aperture is closed by a formed bracket 2229 (Figures XI and XIX) mounted on the upper surface of the table casting 13 16 adjacent the front. edges of: the two. table sections 20.6 and'208.

M oping table channel shaped cross members 222 which extendv between two main angle bars 223. The table is secured on the two angle bars 223 by several studsv 224, the heads of which are welded to the undersurface of the plate 22! and extend through holes bored through the horizontal angle bars 223, The table 5 travels across the machine on a pair of tracks-225, one located at the front and one. at the rear of the two table brackets 3 which arebolted to the'front outside wall of the base housing I, the-bolts passing through certain of the angle irons forming the main structural framework of the base housing. Each of the tracks 225 consists of an angle iron 226 having an outwardly extending arm 22'! forming the track and an inwardly extending upper arm 228 which rests on the tops of bosses 229 formed on the brackets 3 and a retaining plate 233 which consists. of a flat plate overlying the upper inwardly extending arm 228 of the track 226 and secured with the track 225 to the bosses 229 by screws 23 I.

The table 5 rides on six wheels for-med by ball bearings 232 which are mounted on studs 233 riveted'into the vertical arms of the angle bars 223,..- Travel of the table. from the position shown in solid lines in Figure XIX to the position shown in dottedlinesin, Figure XIX permits a full sweep of any meat carried on the table past the blade IL. Travel of the table on its track is-limited by a stationary stop 234 near the right end of the track and by a movable stop 235 near the left end of the track. The'stop 235 is pivotally mounted so. that when desired it can be swung to the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure XXI to permit the table to be removed. The rear edge of the plate 22l overlies the top front edge of the table casting l6 extending to within a small fraction of an inch of the front edges of the stationary table plate 208 and the removable steak'to be held in place without danger to the' operators fingers.

Thickness gauge plate In order to enable the cutting of pieces of meat I such as steaks and chops in uniform thickness the machine is equipped with the thickness gauge plate 14 which is adjustable back of the cutting 14 to theleft from a tubular slide 240 slidably .mounted upon a guide-rod 24! which extends from the front to the rear of the machine parallel and adjacent to the right edge of the table 206. The rod 24! is mounted in a pair of downwardly turned arms 242 which are cast integrallywith the main table casting l6 and extend to the rig-ht some. distance beyond the edge of the table 205. The slide 240 has a downwardly extending finger 243 which is engageable behind a lug 244 formed on the side and at the rear of an elongated nut 245 which is threaded on a shaft 246 rotatably mounted in the arms 242 parallel to and slightly outside and below the guide rod MI. The nut 245 has an upwardly extending arm 24'! which also is slidably mounted on the guide rod MI and which, when the finger 243 is engaged behind the lug 244, engages the front end of the slide 240. The shaft 246 extends through the front one of the arms 242 where it is connected by means of a coupling 248 to a second shaft 249 which extends forwardly beneath the framework for the movable table 5 and is supported near its front end by a sheet metal support 250 secured to the front one of the angle irons 226. A hand crank .25l is pinned on the front end of the shaft 249. When the hand crank 25| is rotated it rotates the shaft 246 and this in turn shifts the elongated nut 245. With the gauge plate slide 240 engaged between the lug 244 and the arm 24'! of the nut 245 the gauge plate l4 also is shifted. Thus, by rotating the hand crank 25! the position of the thickness gauge plate l4 can be selectively varied at will relative to the cutting plane of the blade I I.

When it is desired to cut up large pieces of meat and, therefore, the gauge plate l4 must be transplaced to the rear of the machine to clear the throat so that the large piece of meat can be moved therethrough, the gauge plate can be operatively disconnected from the nut 245 by tiltup to the blade H in order to properly support meat being cut in relatively thin slices, it is so long that if it were slid in non-tilted position to the-rear-of the machine, its left end would strike the side of the column 1. Therefore, a fender 252 (Figures IV, XIX and XXIII) is provided near the rear of the machine, the fender being formed integrally with the table casting l6 and the arm 2 42 as a horizontal shelf. The fender 252 extends to the right a sufficient distance so that (as can best be seen in Figure IV) the lower right-hand corner of the plate 239 between the guide rod 24l and the edge of the table 206, engages the fender 252 before the plate 239 would strike the column I. The front edge of the fender 252 is mitered (Figure XIX) and it therefore cams the gauge plate #4 up and out swinging the plate 239 out of line to strike the column 1.

If the thickness gauge plate M has been employed to cut steaks, for example, of certain thickness and it then becomes necessary to slide the gauge plate out of the way so that larger chunks of meat can be separated, the gauge plate need only be rocked outwardly to disengage it from the control nut 245 and slid directly to the rear of the machine. If it is then desired to 1'8? turn the gauge plate to the same Posit on at 15 which it was located before being removed, it can be merely slid forward until the front end of the slide 238 engages the arm 247 on the nut 245 and then swung downwardly to its operative position. This returns the gauge plate to the same position back of the saw blade as it was before being moved without requiring tedious adjustment of the position of the nut 255 by the hand crank 25L Miscellaneous The machine embodying the invention is equipped with a starting switch 253 which is located in a most accessible position, being mounted by means of the switch plate I4 at the front part of the head 8 (Figures XV and XVI). The switch 253 has a control toggle 25:2 which extends through a small opening in the front wall of the switch casting hi5.

Because machines of this general type usually are backed up against a wall when placed in position in an establishment where they are employed in order to consume as little space as possible and, in particular, because the machine embodying the instant invention can be backed up tightly against the wall since it has no controls at the back of the machine (for example, the tensioning mecha nism is located in the base and the hand crank at the side of the machine), light usually comes from behind an operator. This means that in meat cutting band saws constructed in accordance with the teachings of the prior art the operators shadow is cast down upon the blade and upon the face of the meat which is being cut. The machine embodying the instant invention is, therefore, provided with a work light 255 (Figures XII and XIV) which is located in a recess 258 formed by the lower front wall 93 of the head 8 and the lower edge of the left panel Hi8. By recessing the work light 255 in the head it is protected from accidental damage by being struck by a large piece of meat being moved through the throat of the machine or by accidental engagement with the arm of the operator. By locating the light on the side of the blade opposite that on which the operator stands and beneath the head 8 no shadow is cast either upon the swiftly moving, dangerous blade or the meat being cut. The work light 255 is wired parallel with the motor I2 so that as soon as the machine is started the light is turned on to brightly illuminate the work and the blade, thus also serving as a warning that the blade is running.

The location of the blade tensioning device completely within the base housing eliminates the necessity for any operative mechanical linkages or connections between the base housing I and the head 8. This permits the machine tobe constructed as above-described so that the head 8 is av unit complete within itself and merely is mounted on the base housing 1 to serve as a support for the upper saw wheel 9 and for the parts carried by the head which cooperate with the saw blade II and the saw wheel 9. For ease in packing, shipping and carrying a meat saw embodying the invention, the machine easily can be divided into two separate units, i. e., the base housing with its enclosed and associated parts and the head. ihus, for example, a demonstrator can transport a saw embodying the invention in two major pieces, assembling the machine after it has been carried to the place where the demonstration is to be held. The blade I! is inserted into the machine after the head has been mounted on top of the base with-ease by opening the door I03 and removing the removable table section 285 to give access to the upper and lower saw wheels around which the blade must be placed.

imilarly, the brackets 3 which support the movable table 5 and the Outriggers 2H} which support the end of the stationary table section 288, can be quickly detached and assembled on the base housing I to simplify packing and transportation of the machine,

The provision of a flat relatively unobstructed center wall I50 in the column I and head 8 and the enclosing of the lower wheel compartment 2| isolates those portions of the head and base which are likely to be splattered with bits of meat and fat thrown off the saw or upper and lower wheels during operation. This isolation of the dirt receiving portions of the machine simplifies substantially the maintaining of the machine in sanitary condition because, upon removal of the blade, the upper and lower wheels, the wheel scrapers and the lower saw guide unit, the entire surface of the machine which is likely to become dirty is exposed for easy cleaning and is so sealed from the remainder of the machine that it even can be hosed down with a hot water or steam hose.

The embodiment of the invention which has been described may be modified to meet various requirements.

Having described the invention, We claim:

1. In a meat cutting band saw, in combination, a base housing, an upper housing erected thereon, an upper saw wheel journaled in said upper housing, a vertically movable frame in said base housing, a lower saw wheel journaled in said frame, a continuous band saw blade running on said saw wheels, a motor drivingly connected to said lower wheel and supported on said vertically movable frame, the Weight of said motor acting to apply tension on said blade and manually adjustable means for augmenting the tension applied by the weight of said motor to said blade.

2. In a meat cutting band saw, in combination, a base housing, a column erected on said base, a head atop said column, an upper saw wheel journaled in said head, a lower saw wheel journaled in said base housing, a continuous band saw running on said wheels, vertically movable mounting means for journaling said lower saw wheel, a drive motor supported on said mounting means, spring urged linkage mounted in said base housing for augmenting the action of the weight of said motor, and manually adjustable means for varying the force of said spring.

3. In a meat cutting band saw, in combination, a base housing, a column erected on said base, a head atop said column, an upper saw wheel journaled in said head, a lower saw wheel journaled in said base housing, a continuous band saw running on said wheels, vertically movable mounting means for journaling said lower saw wheel, a drive motor supported on said mounting means, linkage mounted in said base housing for supporting said mounting means, a spring mounted to urge said mounting means downwardly and manually adjustable means for varying the force of said spring.

4. Blade tensioning means for a band saw having a pair of vertically spaced saw wheels and a saw blade running thereon, the upper one of said saw wheels being non-translatably mounted comprising, in combination, a vertically movable lower wheel journal frame, said lower wheel being journaled in said frame, a drive motor supported from said frame, linkage for moving said 17 frame vertically, a spring connected to said linkage for urging said frame downwardly and manually operable means for loading said spring with predetermined force.

WALTER. A. FINK.

JAMES D. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 1,643,829 1,841,939 1,863,822 5 1,870,774 1,967,724 2,007,458 2,048,629 2,081,033 10 2,169,517 2,274,923 2,311,268 2,347,765 2,380,700 15 2,423,363 2,492,824

Number 20 260,286 163,071

Name Date Biro Sept. 27, 1927 Dekonine et al. Jan. 19,1932 Avilla June 21, 1932 Gaines Aug. 9, 1932 Ponton July 24, 1934 Ponton July 9, 1935 Wallin July 21, 1936 Biro May 18, 1937 Biro Aug. 15, 1939 Hedgpeth Mar. 3, 1942 Tannewitz Feb. 16, 1943 Boice et al. May 2, 1944 Lasar July 31, 1945 Biro July 1, 1947 Ahrndt Dec. 27, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Italy Sept. 13, 1928 Switzerland Sept. 16, 1933 

